CHIRAC VOWS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN ARMENIA
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 28 2006

French President Jacques Chirac has indicated that he will urge
Armenia’s leaders to implement democratic reforms and respect human
rights during his upcoming landmark visit to Yerevan. He also warned
that Armenia and Azerbaijan risk missing a rare opportunity to resolve
their conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Since France is a friend of Armenia, she wants to assist in the
process of its political modernization, she wants to help it build a
rule-of-law state that guarantees public liberties," Chirac told the
French-Armenian magazine "Nouvelles d’Armenie" in an interview. "It is
a message of confidence in Armenia’s ability to complete the process
of ongoing political, economic and social reforms that I want to
carry on the occasion of my trip to Yerevan."

Chirac is scheduled to arrive in the Armenian capital Friday on
a three-day state visit that will highlight a long-standing warm
rapport between the governments of the two nations. He will become
the first leader of a major Western power to set foot in the South
Caucasus nation since the Soviet collapse.

Chirac and other French officials have until now refrained from
publicly faulting the administration of President Robert Kocharian
for its controversial conduct of elections and poor human rights
record. The 73-year-old French leader was again careful not do that
in the interview.

Chirac also stressed the importance of a resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, endorsing the most recent peace proposals of the OSCE Minsk
Group, which France heads jointly with the United States and Russia.

"Today the G8 states, the international community are ready to
guarantee a peace accord. What will happen tomorrow? Let us not lose
this chance," he warned.

Chirac argued that Karabakh peace would pave the way for the
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. "I have
repeatedly pleaded with the Turkish authorities to open the border
[with Armenia,]" he said. "It is clear, however, that there is a strong
link between this issue and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and that progress towards its settlement would have a decisive
impact on this issue … I believe that it is possible today."